He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.
Parallel translations
- WEB For he of whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.
- KJV For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
- NKJV For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar.
- NASB For the one about whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.
- NLT For the priest we are talking about belongs to a different tribe, whose members have never served at the altar as priests.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The one of whom these things are spoken, Christ, belongs to a different tribe, none of whom ever served at the altar. His tribal origin proves his priesthood is of a different kind.
Overview
Jesus came from a tribe that had no part in the Levitical priesthood, showing his office cannot be Aaronic. This very fact confirms that his priesthood follows Melchizedek's order, not the law's prescriptions. It demonstrates that a genuine change of priesthood, and thus of covenant, has taken place.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Heb 7:11Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron?
- Heb 7:14For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, a tribe as to which Moses said nothing about priests.
- Num 17:5The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid Myself of the constant grumbling of the Israelites against you.”
- 2 Chr 26:16–21But when Uzziah grew powerful, his arrogance led to his own destruction. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, for he entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.
- Num 16:40just as the LORD commanded him through Moses. This was to be a reminder to the Israelites that no outsider who is not a descendant of Aaron should approach to offer incense before the LORD, lest he become like Korah and his followers.
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Christ at the center
Hebrews is sustained worship of Christ: better than angels, Moses, and the priests; the great High Priest after Melchizedek who by one sacrifice perfects forever those he saves.
How Hebrews 7:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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